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Women's Guide to Winning in the 2005 Afghan Elections

Written in Dari and Translated into English by: Nasrine Gross

The Roqia Center for Women's Rights, Studies and Education in Afghanistan

Central Post Office, POBox 1292, Kabul, Afghanistan

Telephone in Kabul: 070281694

Telephone in the USA: 703-536-6471

Email: [email protected]

Website:www.kabultec.org

July 2005

(This document was funded, translated into Pashto and published in the three

languages in its final version, as a book, by SUNY/USAID Afghanistan

Parliamentary Assistance Project (APAP). All information, ideas and opinions,

however, are that of the author.)

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Elections, A Defining Opportunity

1.1 Afghan Women and Elections of 20051.2 A Look to the Past

1.3 2005 National Assembly and Provincial Councils2. Challenges Women Face in the Elections2.1 Gender2.2 Security2.3 Social Issues2.4 The Professional Challenge2.5 Length of War3. Condition and Situation of Women in Today's Afghanistan

3.1 Illiteracy3.2 Health3.3 Economic Conditions

3.4 Infrastructure Situation3.5 Customs4. Special Mission of Afghan Women

4.1 Towards Afghanistan4.2 Towards Women4.3 Towards Men5. The Constitution of 2004 and Afghan Women

5.1 General Look5.2 Articles Specific to Women6. Keys to Success for Women

6.1 Preparation and Knowledge6.2 Networking where Men Cannot Go6.3 Networking where Women Cannot Go6.4 Dealing with Men's One-upsmanship6.5 Dealing with Women's Putdowns7. More Keys to Success

7.1 Your Election Kit7.2 A Word about Fund Raisers7.3 Your Unforgettable Souvenir: Your Gift to your Constituents8. Congratulations! You Are a Winner! Welcome to Your New Office!

Appendices

Appendix A: List of Female Seats & Candidates per Province, Wolesi JirgaAppendix B: List of Female Seats & Candidates per Province, Provincial CouncilsAppendix C: Some Important AddressesAppendix D: Bibliography of Some Useful and Important DocumentsAppendix E: Some Interesting Pictures

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were Mrs. Khadija Ahrari, Mrs. Massouma Wardak, Mrs. Anahita Ratebzad andMrs. Roqia Abubakre.

In those days, there were many women with lives that are relevant to todayssituation. If as an example we take a short look at the life of one of them, we see

that their lives were not so very different than today. Mrs. Roqia Abubakre (laterknown as Mrs. Roqia Habib) was born in Chehelstoon of Kabul to an educated andmiddle class family. When she was nine years old, she was engaged. The fianc ofher older sister had died and the groom's family did not have a son of a suitable ageto continue to have the older sister as a bride. The family therefore asked for thehand of Roqia to a younger son. Roqia was married when she was thirteen; she hada baby girl at fourteen; and she became a widow at fifteen when her husband diedof tuberculosis. With much chagrin over the death of her beloved husband, she wasforced to take her infant daughter and move back to her father's family home.

There, she turned to studying and became one of the six women who for the first

time in the history of Afghanistan, graduated from a girls' high school in 1947. In1946, while studying, she worked as a teacher and was one of the founders of theWomen's Institute, the precursor of today's Ministry of Women's Affairs. In 1951,she became one of the first females to earn a university degree. Shortly after, shebecame the head of the household for her four infant children when her secondhusband was imprisoned during the First Democracy Movement.

Later, Roqia became a member of the Loya Jirga that ratified the constitution of1964, and after its promulgation, became a candidate from Kabul.

In those days, Roqia had to conduct her successful campaign without the help ofguide books, workshops, or civil society. She had to work hard to find supportivesocial networks.

After the imprisonment and disappearance of her oldest son, Roqia became arefugee in 1980. When she died in 2002 at the age of 84 in the United States ofAmerica she left behind 35 books and numerous articles and was still fighting forthe cause of women of her country. Her last words to her daughter were: "EveryAfghan woman is a daughter of mine!"

A picture of Roqia during her years in the United States is in Appendix E.

___________________________________________________________________In your opinion, what are some similarities between the life of this one woman

and today's Afghanistan? Between you, as a candidate, and Roqia? Between the

society, then and now? Mention three things:

1) ______________

2) ______________

3) ______________

___________________________________________________________________

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However, women must not be content with this JEMB guideline. To be successfulin the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council, as a candidate you must show that youare totally worthy of representing the Afghan people. In this regard, you have manyhurdles to overcome.

In this guide, we have attempted to help you better solve some of these problemsand challenges. We have organized the guide into different sections. In section twowe talk about the challenges women face. In section three we explore the currentsituation and condition of Afghan women. To find solutions, we first start with theconstitution in section five. In light of all of these, in sections six and seven wediscuss some keys to success - - for you. Finally, in section eight we try to describeto you, the representative of the people, a little of what your new office will looklike and what you should expect once you are there.

Also, we have compiled extra information in several appendices. You can draw onthis information as the need arises.

To make sure that the information we provide and issues we discuss are effective,we ask you to take an active role in every step of this guide because it is your ownideas that will define a winning and unique Afghan solution. To this end, at the endof each section and subsection we have asked pertinent questions.

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2. Challenges Women Face in the Elections

Afghan women face many challenges in this election. These challenges affectwomen's ability in many ways: in the process and procedures of their campaign,presentation of a platform, delivery of a message, and the relationships that theymust develop in order to get the people's vote.

In this section we discuss some of these challenges so that hopefully anunderstanding of them will help women find effective ways of not only dealing withthem, but also developing better campaign strategies - - and becoming betterrepresentatives.

2.1 The Gender Gap

Unequal relationship between men and women in society means unequal access forwomen. Therefore, inevitably, election campaigns are also unequal.

This is not only the case in Afghanistan. Being a woman makes the election race

difficult and unequal in all parts of the world because women have only relativelyrecently come into the public life. Thus, some things that exist for men existscantly for women. For example, for men, it is normal to draw upon officialcustoms, bureaucratic experience, institutional memory, culture and habits ofworking in the public sphere or being in powerful, decision making positions. Butfor women such things either do not exist or they are new and unfamiliar. In otherwords, women do not have many examples and role models.

Men and women are physically and socially different. Women get pregnant, givebirth, have to be obedient to the in-laws according to strict rules, and often have tomanage the home environment. All of these raise women with separate habits andcustoms. Men also have their own habits and customs. With these separate habitsand customs, society also expects different things from each of them.

When both men and women start working in the same work environment, for eitherof them, models of behavior do not exist. This situation creates difficulties,especially for women.

Social differences that exist between men and women in Afghanistan and thedifferent expectations that society has from both of them has created unequal accessto needed social spheres for women. For example, in Afghan society it is often ashame (ayb or sharm) for a woman to speak or eat in front of men, a woman mustalways get her husband's permission even for going to the market let alonebecoming a candidate, and gathering people to talk about her platform. For Friday'sprayer, women do not go to the mosque and do not have contacts with the mosque'smullah.

Women must perform all household chores such as cooking, washing clothes,collecting water and fuel, watching and raising children, and others, all of whichtake up the majority of a woman's time.

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For men, it is a shame to listen to a woman or ask a woman's permission, andhaving a professional contact with a woman is not considered manly. It is alsoshameful for men to be considered 'zanchoo' or woman-like, and it is not only 'nang'or 'a-ar', or shame, but a man is considered lacking (na-mard or un-man), if he

cannot properly provide for his wife and family or if he lives off his wife's income.

With such mentality, female candidates' access to offices, social institutions, socialservices and getting society's acquiescence in their social activities is limited andaffects their capabilities in the campaign.

___________________________________________________________________How can female candidates work under such circumstances? Mention three

things:

1) ____________________

2) ____________________

3) _______________________________________________________________________________________

2.2 Security

Security in Afghanistan today is not good. We still have groups that are against thesuccess of our country. They still endanger us. On a daily basis, there are enemyattacks on our land and our young men lose their lives defending our country. Theenemy not only engages in armed battles, but also bombs public areas, andparticipates in kidnappings and terrorist activities. The enemy wants to create, at allcosts, fear and terror in the people.

As far as women are concerned, there are serious threats because women's activityin the social sphere is totally against our enemy's objectives and is contrary to theirphilosophy and principles.

On those occasions when women gather for a meeting or when they have campaignactivities, they are threatened and some times they are socially isolated andexcluded. Our enemies encourage people not to attend such gatherings. They putpressure, under many guises, on the women's neighbors and even relatives.

The enemy executes this evil objective using many means and tactics. They createinsults and indignity to women so that women lose their courage.

There are also other risks in society: people resisting the social role of women,delinquents, extremists, and even sometimes, people belonging to rival groups, be itmen or women.

These risks take many forms, including shouting at women, accusing women ofimmoral behaviour, spreading rumours about women, kidnapping women and girls,

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burning girls' schools, attacking female candidates, tearing up their business cards,accusing them to be anti-tradition, etc.

Female candidates and their entourage must pay attention to these risks and theymust not abandon the fight too quickly.

Female candidates must know about all official sources of candidate protection,security and safety. They should always have on them the names and telephonenumbers of the local police, JEMB and other related offices.

___________________________________________________________________List three official sources of protection for the candidates:

1) __________________________

2) __________________________

3) __________________________

In your opinion, in what ways can female candidates safeguard their own safety

and security as well as that of their entourage and audience of a gathering?___________________________________________________________________

2.3 Social Issues

Women candidates must also fight against unacceptable social issues such asgossip, accusations, snide remarks, harassment, cursing, innuendo, intimidation,loud and lewd remarks, etc. All these may be used to scare away women and forcethem to leave the campaign.

Women have important tools to fight such problems: The best way to fight back isto directly confront the situation. If somebody has gossiped about you, you shouldas soon as possible face the person and clarify it to the public. Tell them this is nottrue. Confront them by saying: "I am not an immoral woman; I am not a corruptwoman. I am an upstanding citizen. I am a good mother, wife and daughter. And Ihave the support of my family, my father, and my husband."

Currently in Afghanistan women must play a more active role in society becausethe rebuilding of the new Afghanistan is not possible with the work of men alone.

We must be aware that the requirements of our time have put many pressures onboth men and women. Society is always thinking of morals and ethics.

As a female candidate, you should always make it clear to society that working toget a better social and familial status, to participate in reconstruction of the country,to give a helping hand to men, also are moral and ethical actions and do not takeaway from the traditional place of respect for women.

In Afghanistan, female candidates should always, and in many different ways, saythat they are moral and ethical and upstanding women. They should always mentionthat they are good mothers, daughters and wives. If they have reached middle age,

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they should mention that, as in our society, age gives more social credibility towomen.

Women must always remind people that they are good and humanitarian Afghans.

___________________________________________________________________What kind of laws can we create to help achieve social justice, to make it more

everyday?

Mention three strategies that female candidates can use to increase their social

credibility:

1) _________________________________

2) _________________________________

3) _________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2.4 Lack of Professional Experience

Of the 14% of literate and educated women, only a small portion work in an officeand have had experience with office and bureaucratic environments. But becausethe number of these women is small, and most just in Kabul, often society thinksthat women are not very professional, do not work in offices and are neither wellaware of the situation of Afghanistan and their own community nor can they presentsolutions.

Your rivals will try to always remind the public about this perceived lack in you.

To alleviate this problem, as a female candidate, you should use many differentvenues to make it clear to your audiences and the public that you understand thecountry's needs, that you are very well versed in the problems of your owncommunity and have developed practical solutions to them, which you will try toimplement after your victory.

Also, female candidates should try to familiarize themselves with office andbureaucratic expressions used in Afghanistan such as those in memorandum, jobdescription, accounts receivable, executive office of the president, developmentbudget, computer files, including courts, their names, and other jargon used in theoffices of the executive and judiciary. Female candidates should, from time to time,and as needed use these expressions.

___________________________________________________________________What are some of your professional problems? How are they used against you?

What is your solution? Where would you find a list of these? An NGO, a

government office, a newspaper? Write down three more potential sources:

1) __________________________

2) __________________________

3) __________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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3. Situation of Afghan Women Today

To represent people in the Wolesi Jirga or the Provincial Councils, as a femalecandidate, you need to understand the current conditions of Afghanistan andespecially be conversant in the situation of women, in the country and in the worldat large.

In spite of much activity by the Government and the international community, thecurrent conditions of Afghanistan includes many challenges which have put thecountry as one of the poorest, most illiterate and most backward in the world. Forexample:

The national per capita income is about $200 per year. This is about 800 Afsper month, which is not enough for one person. And most Afghans do not getthis as this is only an average.

Afghanistan is the source of about 80% of the heroin going to Europe andcultivates more than 75% of the opium of the world. Which means that thenumber of those people involved in drug-related jobs, in illicit jobs, is very

high. And addiction threatens our youth. The number of people living in the rural areas is about 72.2% and in the cities

about 28.8%.

The active economy of the country includes 70% men and about 30% women.

In the world also, according to the United Nations statistics for the last decade, thesituation of women shows that they face difficulties in many areas.

For example, look at the following:

Women perform two thirds of the work of the world.

Women receive only one tenth of the world's income.

Women make up two thirds of the world's illiterate population. Women own less than one hundredth of the world's wealth.

In addition, inside Afghanistan, the situation of women is one of the most importantcauses of poverty, backwardness and pain. The decades of war especially affectedwomen in many different areas.

The population of Afghanistan today is estimated at about 25 million. Women andgirls comprise more than 50%.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have reliable statistics in every instance but in many

areas compared to other countries Afghanistan, is in the bottom ranks.

We discuss some of these in the following sections.

3.1IlliteracyOnly 14% of women over 15 years of age are literate. This means that about 86% ofAfghan women do not have literacy and education.

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In other words, the majority of women who can vote and can receive votes cannotwrite their own name, cannot read the doctor's prescription for their children, cannotread the name of their candidate, etc.

The number of girls that go to school is about 29.57%. In other words, about

70.43% of our girls are not in school yet. And therefore, illiteracy will continue inthis new generation.

From those girls that go to school, only one or two percent will finish sixth grade.The rest will again stay home. In this way, the number of literate and educatedwomen will continue to remain very small.

Only 54% of children go to school. In other words, about 46% of our children havenot seen school yet.

Less than perhaps 5% of Afghan women know a foreign language. Less than 1% of

Afghan women know computers.

The reasons for all this are complex and vary from area to area. Some of the reasonsmay be lack of schools, lack of teachers, lack of transportation, school's distance,poverty, etc.

___________________________________________________________________In your area, how is the state of education? What are its needs? For women? For

children? As a member of the Wolesi Jirga or Provincial Council what solutions

might you present? For secondary laws in this area what articles of the

constitution might come in handy?

Mention three needs of education in your area?

1) __________________

2) __________________

3) __________________

___________________________________________________________________

3.2 Health

Health conditions also are very poor in Afghanistan. Look at these statistics:

A woman dies as a result of childbirth complications every 30 minutes.

More than 70% of births are at home, the majority without the presence of a

midwife or nurse. There are on average about 6.8 pregnancies for each woman.

Maternal mortality rate is 1,600 per 100,000 (in Badakhshan it is 6400 per100,000, the highest in the world).

The government can spend on public health only one dollar (about fifty Afs)per person in one year.

Only 40% of Afghan children receive important vaccinations.

Access to drinkable water is only 23%.

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________________________________________________________________

How is the economic situation of women in your area? What are some of the

factors? How will you use the Wolesi Jirga or Provincial Council to attend to

some of these problems?

What are three economic problems in your area?

1) _____________________2) ____________________

3) ____________________

3.4 Infrastructure Problems

After decades of war, the infrastructure of Afghanistan is mostly destroyed. Roads,bridges, wells, karizes (water aqueducts), schools, office buildings, parks,courthouses, utilities, transportation facilities, and other such necessities are all inruin and unusable. This situation also affects access to those facilities and servicesthat help the situation of women.

Shortage of professional personnel for social works such as judges, teachers,doctors and others have caused many problems in general and for women inparticular.

___________________________________________________________________

What are some of the ways that you might work in the Wolesi Jirga and

Pronvincial Council to address some of these issues? In what ways can you be of

service to your people?

Mention three infrastructure areas that affect you negatively?

1) ____________________

2) ____________________

3) ____________________

3.5 Customs and Mores

Some of our social customs are enriching. But some of them are also very old andare causing problems in society.

High cost of girls' dowry and trousseau, expensive weddings, not being accustomedto dealing with officials, putting so much emphasis on relations rather than onregulations, not giving women's inheritance, are all customs that are causing womena lot of difficulty.

One of the newer and more undesirable habits/customs is that of being disrespectfulto women and committing violence against them. Women are being forciblymarried, are being given to a family as replacement for a killing, sold for two rifles,beaten without a second thought, shoved aside, cursed and ignored.

At the same time, men do not have behavior models for some of the new situations,such as taking more of an active role in raising their children. Developing men's

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role in the family life and helping to create closer relationships between men andtheir children are important steps.

We women do not want a war with men. We want peace and cooperation.

___________________________________________________________________How can we lower the ratio of violence against women with social services? Whattypes of violence and undesirable customs are causing problems? In what ways

can we use our good customs and traditions to help solve our problems?

Name three areas?

1) ____________________

2) ______________________

3) ______________________

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4. Special Mission of Afghan Women Today

From discussions in the above sections we can conclude that in this coming electionwomen have a special mission.

4.1 Towards Afghanistan

Women delegates represent men, women and children; they speak for theconditions of all of Afghanistan. However, at this particular time, women also haveother special missions in this first post-war Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Councils.

4.2 Towards Women

It is up to the female delegates to articulate Afghan women's situation and needs.This must be one of the goals of the female candidates in this first parliament: toaddress the problems of Afghan women.

4.3 Towards Men

Afghan women must also help their brothers understand the situation of Afghan

women. It is up to these women candidates and representatives to show that beinginvolved in the reconstruction of our homeland, Afghanistan, does not make usimmoral women; that women are not in competition with men. But that we want tobe equal helpers in rebuilding our country together, for ourselves and for ourchildren.

Fulfilling these three missions, we women can draw upon some special andimportant things. There are areas for hope and opportunity.

In the next sections we highlight a few of these.

_______________________________________________________________

Why do you think these different aspects are all important?

_______________________________________________________________

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5. The Constitution of 2004

The constitution of 2004 is a very important document for women. Utilizing thearticles and principles of the constitution, female candidates can develop necessaryand useful platforms and later, once they are in the Wolesi Jirga and ProvincialCouncil, important and useful programs for our society.

5.1 General Overview

The constitution has one preamble and twelve chapters. It contains a total of 162articles and some of the articles contain several paragraphs. The following tableshows the chapters, their titles and numbers of articles in each chapter.

Chapter

Number Chapter Title

How

Many

Articles Numbers of Articles

Preamble

Chapter One State 21 articles Articles First to 21st

Chapter Two Fundamental Rights andDuties of Citizens 38 articles Articles 22nd

to 59th

Chapter Three President of the Republic 11 articles Articles 60th to 70th

Chapter Four Government 10 articles Articles 71st to 80th

Chapter Five National Assembly 29 articles Articles 81st to 109th

Chapter Six Grand Assembly 6 articles Articles 110th to 115th

Chapter Seven Judiciary 20 articles Articles 116th to 135th

Chapter Eight Administration 7 articles Articles 136th to 142nd

Chapter Nine State of Emergency 6 articles Articles 143rd to 148th

Chapter Ten Amendments 2 articles Articles 149th to 150th

Chapter Eleven Miscellaneous

Provisions

7 articles Articles 151st to 157th

Chapter Twelve Transitional Provisions 5 articles Articles 158th to 162nd

For candidates for the Wolesi Jirga, chapters on National Assembly (fifth),Government (sixth) and Transition Rules (twelfth) are very important.

Candidates for the Provincial Councils should also read chapter eight,Administration.

Both of these two groups of candidates must be very knowledgeable about chaptertwo, Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens.

5.2 Specific Articles Regarding Women

It is very important that female candidates know and understand all the articles inthe constitution that directly or indirectly affect women. These articles that numbermore than eleven are as follows:

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Chapter

Number

Article

Number Text of the Article

Relationship to

Women's Issues

One 7 The United Nations Charter,inter-state agreements, as well asinternational treaties to which

Afghanistan has joined, and theUniversal Declaration of HumanRights shall be respected.The state shall prevent terroristactivities, cultivation andsmuggling of narcotics, andproduction and use ofintoxicants.

These documentscontain importantarticles regarding

women that femalecandidates shouldknow about.

Two 22 Any kind of discrimination anddistinction between citizens ofAfghanistan shall be forbidden.

The citizens of Afghanistan, manor woman, have equal rights andduties before the law.

Understanding thisarticle is veryimportant for women

so they do not allowpatriarchal behaviourto take advantage ofthem.

Two 26 Crime is a personal act.Investigation, arrest anddetention of an accused as wellas penalty execution shall notincriminate another person.

Women should knowthat we cannot call anindividual a criminaluntil the court hasissued a decision.

Two 33 The citizens of Afghanistan shallhave the right to elect and be

elected.The conditions of exercising thisright shall be stipulated by law.

The most importantright for you

Two 43 Education, being the right of allcitizens of Afghanistan, shall beoffered up to the B.A. level in thestate educational institutes free ofcharge by the state.To expand a balanced educationas well as to provide mandatoryintermediate education

throughout Afghanistan, the stateshall design and implementeffective programs and preparethe ground for teaching mothertongues in areas where they arespoken.

What are some thingswe can do in this areaas a member of theWolesi Jirga orProvincial Council?

Two 44 To create and foster balancededucation for women, improve

If there are no girlsschools or there are

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Chapter

Number

Article


Relationship to

Women's Issues

education of nomads as well aseliminate illiteracy in thecountry, the state shall devise and

implement an effective plan.

many handicapped andwidows withoutliteracy in our area,

what can we do in theWolesi Jirga? In theProvincial Council?

Two 53 To regulate medical services aswell as regulate financial aid tosurvivors of martyrs and missingpersons, and, for the reintegrationof the disabled and handicappedand their active participation inthe society, the state shall adoptnecessary measures in

accordance with the provisions ofthe law.The state shall guarantee therights of retirees, and shall rendernecessary aid to the elderly,women without caretakers,disabled and handicapped as wellas poor orphans in accordancewith the provisions of the law.

Because of this article,what kind of help canyou provide to widowsor children who aresick in your area?

Two 54 Family is the fundamental pillar of the society, and shall be

protected by the state. To attainthe physical and spiritual healthof the family, especially of thechild and mother, upbringing ofthe children, as well as theelimination of related traditionscontrary to the principles of thesacred religion of Islam, the stateshall adopt necessary measures.

When you read thisarticle what matters

come to your mind thatyou could raise in theWolesi Jirga or in theProvincial Council?

Two 55 Defending the country shall bethe duty of all citizens of

Afghanistan. Conditions ofcompulsory military service shallbe regulated by law.

Do you think Afghanwomen should become

soldiers?

Two 58 To monitor respect for humanrights in Afghanistan as well asto foster and protect it, the stateshall establish the IndependentHuman Rights Commission of

What instances ofviolation of humanrights of men, womenand children can youthink of that you could

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Chapter

Number

Article


Relationship to

Women's Issues

Afghanistan.Every individual shall complainto the aforementioned

Commission about violations ofpersonal human rights.The Commission shall referhuman rights violations ofindividuals to legal authoritiesand assist them in defense oftheir rights.Organization and method ofoperation of the Commissionshall be regulated by law.

bring up to the WolesiJirga and ProvincialCouncil?

Five 83 Members of the House of the

People shall be elected by thepeople through free, general,secret and direct balloting.The work period of the House ofthe People shall terminate, afterthe disclosure of the results of theelections, on June 22nd of theFifth year and the newparliament shall commencework.The elections for members of the

House of the People shall be held30-60 days prior to the expirationof the term of the House of thePeople.The number of the members ofthe House of the People shall beproportionate to the population ofeach constituency, not exceedingthe maximum of two hundredfifty individuals.Electoral constituencies as well

as other related issues shall bedetermined by the elections law.The elections law shall adoptmeasures to attain through theelectorate system general andfair representation for all thepeople of the country, andproportionate to the population of

What is the number of

deputies? What is thenumber of women?Why?

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Chapter

Number

Article


Relationship to

Women's Issues

every province, on average, atleast two females shall be electedmembers of the House of the

People from each province.Five 84 Members of the House of Elders

shall be elected and appointed asfollows:

1. From amongsteach provincialcouncil members,one individualshall be elected bythe respectivecouncil for a four

year term;2. From amongstdistrict councils ofeach province,one individual,elected by therespectivecouncils, for athree year term;

3. The remainingone third of the

membership shallbe appointed bythe President, fora five year term,from amongstexperts andexperiencedpersonalities,including twomembers fromamongst the

impaired andhandicapped, aswell as two fromnomads.

The President shallappoint fifty percentof these individualsfrom amongst

Meshrano Jirga hashow many members?How many arewomen?

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Chapter

Number

Article


Relationship to

Women's Issues

women.The individual electedas a member of the

House of the Eldersshall lose membershipto the related Council,and, anotherindividual shall beappointed inaccordance with theprovisions of the law.

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6. Keys to Success for Women

Because of the problems and issues that we have discussed female candidates needto work harder to receive more votes in the elections, and to be successful andeffective in the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Councils.

In this regard, some things play a key role such as organization, networking, anddealing correctly with patriarchal behaviour be it from men or women.

In this section we talk about some of the most important keys to success in today'sAfghanistan.

6.1 Preparation and Knowledge

The most important keys to winning in the elections are good preparation and solidknowledge. If a candidate has preparation and lacks knowledge she cannot win. Thereverse is also true that if she has knowledge and no organization, she cannot gainthe vote of the people.

These two issues are more important for women than for men since society thinkswomen lack these two and we women ourselves must prove what we are capable of.

First: Preparation

All over the world, preparing for an election campaign requires certain basicprinciples, and Afghan female candidates have perhaps learned these in otherconferences.

In short, one can say that a candidate must pay attention to the following:Developing a platform acceptable to the candidate and to the people, developing amessage by which people remember the candidate and her platform, organizing thecampaign office, finding sources of funding, having campaign teams who canimplement good campaign activities, and finally developing social and professionalnetworks with special attention to good relations with the media.

The first activity of a candidate with her campaign office and campaign workers isthat after knowing how many votes in total she needs, they count the number ofpeople that will vote for her and identify the people and their number whose voteshe will need to win. Only then must the candidate develop her campaign strategy,her plan of action as to how she would get the votes of these last ones.

For this preparation a candidate must have the names of her supporters, and thenames of those individuals and organizations whose vote she is seeking. She mustalso be a good manager, or the workers who work for her must be good managers.Finally, a candidate must be knowledgeable about her election rivals.

_________________________________________________________________

You as a female candidate, what steps have you taken in this area?

Mention four things you have done:

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2) ________________

3) ________________________

6.2 Networking: Where Women Can Go and Men Cannot

For women it is easier to be in contact with other women. For example in the day of

the visit to the shrines, in women's wakes, where women carry the water fromwells, karizes and sources, in engagement or wedding parties, in the women's publicbaths. Using these occasions, female candidates can talk with other women.

These contacts with women are a very good way of getting the votes of the entirefamily including their men folk.

You should attend wakes and get to know the important women of the community.

________________________________________________________________

In your area where else can women go to meet other women?

Name three?1) ____________________

2) ___________________

3) ____________________

6.3 Networking: Where Men Can Go and Women Cannot

There are many places where men can meet each other such as the market, Fridayprayer, funerals, wakes, Khatems (Reading of the Koran in one sitting),circumcision ceremonies, tea houses, town squares, and construction sites.

It is very important that women deliver their campaign message to men also. You

must seek ways so you can attend these meetings and discuss your campaign.

For example, if going to the mosque and meeting the mullah is difficult, try to visitthe mullah's wife and request from her to set up a meeting with him.

You must also attend all the official and institutional events to which you areinvited. If there is an event that you would like to attend but are not invited, find away to attend it. Either call and get an invitation, or just go and see what happens(most probably, they will let you in).

These events are held by associations, media, government offices, universities,

ethnic councils, and other civil society organizations. Every event and gathering canbe an opportunity for you to make yourself better known and get a few more votes.

Also, if you can, take with you a male member of your family or your campaignorganization to these events. In this way, two people will be presenting yourmessage and collecting information on the wishes of the people.

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_____________________________________________________________

What are some of the successful approaches you have taken in this area?

Name three:

1) _____________________

2) _____________________3) _____________________

_____________________________________________________________

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7. More Keys to Success

There are other ways to reach success. We describe some of these keys to success inthe following sections.

7.1 Your Election Kit

As we mentioned one of the tools of success for you is your preparation. In thisregard one of the things you can do for yourself is to prepare an election kit. This kitthat can fit in a handbag should include all the things that you need when running intopeople, meeting potential voters or attending a gathering.

In this kit the following items are necessary and you should be able to give copies ofthese out should the need arise:

1- Copies of your biography2- Copies of your platform3- Copies of your name, election picture, election emblem, election number4- Your telephone number and address written on a card

5- A list of those whose votes you are trying to garner, so if necessary youcan refer to and double check.6- Also, you should have a list of all those offices for which you might

develop a need such as the police office, JEMB, complaints office,voting booth office, governor, etc. You should have the name of aresponsible person in each office along with their telephone number andaddress.

7- Also for your personal needs you should have tissue, make up itemssuch as lipstick and comb, soap with a wet towel and one dry towel.Even a bottle of water, gum and toilet paper. These personal items arebecause the conditions of Afghanistan are not so easy and this summerheat causes a lot of emergencies.

8- A little emergency cash.

All these items should be separated in envelopes and then can be organized in a largerenvelope or file folder and carried in your brief case or your handbag.

During a campaign a lot of important meetings happen by chance. If you have this kit,you will never lose an opportunity to offer information about yourself and to gain afew more votes for yourself. Personally, you will also be able to campaign in acomfortable manner.

What else might you need to have in your kit? Name three things:1) _____________________

2) _____________________

3) _____________________

7.2 A Word on Fund Raising

Many female candidates do not have much money to run good campaigns. Toalleviate this situation, you can get one of your supporters to hold a fundraiser event

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At the very least, in every gathering you must put up your name, election symbol andpicture as well as your election number all on a large poster and hang it. Make sureeveryone understands to vote for this person, this picture, this symbol and thisnumber. They are sure to remember at least one of them on elections day.

Also, try to wear the same scarf and clothes that are on your picture. Theidentification is easier.

Remember, for your voters you must remain UNFORGETTABLE till the electionsday!

Name three things by which people can remember your specific information on

elections day:

1) ________________________

2) ________________________

3) ________________________

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8. Congratulations, You Have Won! Welcome to Your New Office!

The National Assembly is located in Kabul. The Provincial Council of each provincewill be located in the center of the province.

The first session of the National Assembly will be opened by President Karzai.

The first thing the National Assembly will do is it will elect its own leaders andestablish its own administration and procedures. Then, perhaps it will decide to act onthe decrees President Karzai has signed since assuming elected office.

Also, one of the first actions will be to assign your seat to you. Do not allow thatwomen sit in one special area. You are an elected member and should have seatassignments like all the members of the National Assembly.

In addition, commission assignments will be decided upon. Make sure you are in thecommission for which you have an interest and experience.

You must understand the workings of the National Assembly, its administration,procedures and facilities.

You must learn the code of ethics of the National Assembly.

You must learn your responsibilities and have your agenda to work on.

You must get to know those working in the administration of the National Assemblyas well as your colleagues. Also, learn to ask for help from the legislative assistancegroup in the National Assembly administration.

You should stay in close touch with your constituents. And do not forget the media!

Most of what we have said in this section also applies to the Provincial Councilmembers.

Madam Deputy, Welcome to your new office! We wish you success!

Mention three things about your new office in the Wolesi Jirga:

1) _______________________

2) _______________________

3) _______________________

Mention three things about your new office in the Provincial Council;

1) ________________________

2) ________________________

3) ________________________

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Appendices

Appendix A

List of Female Seats & Candidates per Province, Wolesi Jirga

Number Province

AllocatedFemale

Seats in WJ

Number ofFemale

Candidates

1 Uruzgan 1 2

2 Badghees 1 5

3 Bamyan 1 7

4 Badakhshan 2 9

5 Baghlan 2 14

6 Balkh 3 16

7 Parwan 2 8

8 Paktia 1 5

9 Paktika 1 410 Panjshir 1 4

11 Takhar 2 13

12 Jowzjan 1 8

13 Khost 1 10

14 Daikundi 1 5

15 Zabul 1 3

16 Sari Pul 1 7

17 Samangan 1 5

18 Ghazni 3 12

19 Ghor 2 8

20 Faryab 3 1021 Farah 1 3

22 Kabul 9 50

23 Kapisa 1 6

24 Kunduz 2 15

25 Konar 1 8

26 Kandahar 3 11

27 Laghman 1 8

28 Logar 1 11

29 Nangarhar 4 18

30 Nooristan 1 631 Nimroz 1 4

32 Wardak 2 9

33 Heart 5 18

34 Helmand 2 6

Kuchis 3 7

Total 68 335

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Appendix B

List of Female Seats & Candidates per Province, Provincial Council

Number Province

Allocated

Female

Seats in PC

Number of

Female

Candidates1 Uruzgan 3

2 Badghees 3 3

3 Bamyan 2 9

4 Badakhshan 4 11

5 Baghlan 4 6

6 Balkh 5 15

7 Parwan 4 5

8 Paktia 3 5

9 Paktika 3 4

10 Panjshir 3 4

11 Takhar 4 712 Jowzjan 3 11

13 Khost 3 4

14 Daikundi 3 6

15 Zabul 3 2

16 Sari Pul 3 4

17 Samangan 3 5

18 Ghazni 5 9

19 Ghor 4 6

20 Faryab 4 7

21 Farah 3 4

22 Kabul 8 31

23 Kapisa 3 6

24 Kunduz 4 10

25 Konar 3 3

26 Kandahar 4 6

27 Laghman 3 6

28 Logar 3 3

29 Nangarhar 5 4

30 Nooristan 3 3

31 Nimroz 3 3

32 Wardak 3 733 Heart 5 31

34 Helmand 4 7

Kuchis

Total 124 247

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Appendix D

Bibliography of Useful Books and Documents

1) The Constitution of Afghanistan, 2004.2) The Elections Law of 1382. Joint Electoral Management Body and United

Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), Kabul, 2004.3) Afghanistan's Parliamentary Elections 2005, Learning Election Campaigns,National Democratic Institute (NDI), Kabul.4) Book of Learning for Master Trainers, First Regional Workshop, Holiday InnIslamabad, August 2004, NDI, Kabul.5) Our Country, My Role, Women Without Borders, Vienna, 2004.6) Parliamentary Guide, Legal and Fundamental Rules, UNIFEM, Kabul 1384.7) Gender Training Manual (Draft), UNDP, Kabul, 2005.8) National Human Development Report, UNDP, Kabul 2004.9) World Bank Reports, various.10) What is the National Assembly? SUNY/USAID, Kabul, 2005.

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Appendix E

Some Interesting Pictures

1) Mir Hashem, Finance Minister of King Amanullah with his family inPaghman, circa 1927.

2) Five generations of educated Afghan women: From the great-greatgrandmother, great grandmother, grandmother, mother and daughter (Mrs.Hajera Ziayee and her family) all attended Malalay High School in Kabul.Mrs. Ziyayee was the first woman director of a factory during the time ofKing Amanullah.

3) Roqia Abubakre AKA Habib (3rd from left) at age 78 with other Afghanwomen in the USA.

4) Women delegates in the Constitutional Loya Jirga of 2003.